mon·ster (mŏn'stər)
n.

1. 1. An imaginary or legendary creature, such as a centaur or Harpy, that combines parts from various animal or human forms.
   2. A creature having a strange or frightening appearance.
2. An animal, a plant, or other organism having structural defects or deformities.
3. Pathology. A fetus or an infant that is grotesquely abnormal and usually not viable.
4. A very large animal, plant, or object.
5. One who inspires horror or disgust: a monster of selfishness.

adj.
Informal. Extremely large; monstrous: a monster hit at the box office; ate a monster steak.

[Middle English monstre, from Old French, from Latin mōnstrum, portent, monster, from monēre, to warn.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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